Packer.



R. T. F. DODDS.

PACKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. IsIs.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE Naam; Pals co., WASHINGTON, n. c

R. T. F. DODDS.

PAcKER.

APPLICATION FILED MR. 7| 1916. 1,21 1,105. Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o 45 5 wl-rNEssEs 4 4 o. mvEN-ron 2 Z RLQHJS CIK PACKER.

Application filed March 7, 1916.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, RowAN T. F. DoDDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view partially in section of one form of device covering my invention; F ig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line lll-HI of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clutch-locking member.

This invention relates to an improvement in packers, and is designed to provide a cheap and efiicient device for packing material, such as flour, cement, bran, cotton seed hull, and other fine material into'bags.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is automatically set into operation to pack a bag and to automatically stop the packing after the bag has been moved a predetermined distance by means of the contents packed therein. I accomplish this by providing suitable clutch mechanism controlled by the movement of the bag-supporting platform, which will automatically set the machine into operation when the platform has been moved to its upper position, and which will automatically disengage the driving mechanism from the packing mechanism after the bag has moved the platform a predetermined distance so that the height of the material packed in each of the bags will be approximately the same. y

Another object of my invention is to provide a constant feed device for the packer, which is so arranged that the packing mechanism will be constantly supplied with sufiicient material so that the density of the material in each bag packed by the machine will be approximately the same.

A further object of thel invention is to provide adjustable devices for varying the density of the material to be packed, as well as the height of the material in the bag, so that the device is adapted to pack different materials and to vary the density of the packed material within the bags.

In all packers known to me the hopper or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Serial No. 82,580.

bin from which the material is fed to packer is placed at the side of the bag tube and the material is fed from the hopper to the tube through achute which extends at about an angle of 45 degrees to the center line of the tube. These feed tubes are small in cross section when compared to the cross sectional area of the bottom of the hopper, and frequently choke. The hopper in my packer is placed above the bag tube, the center thereof being approximately in line with the center of the bag tube, and is connected theretoy by means of two chutes which are approximately vertical, while the cross sectional area of the chutes is equal to the cross sectional area of the bottom of the hopper, so that the material will freely pass from the hopper to the bag tube.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made in the details of construction and the general arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, thereference character 2 designates the supporting columns for the machine, and 3 the framework for supporting the driving mechanism. Supported by the columns 2 by means of brackets 4 is a hopper 5, and connected to the lower end of this hopper is the usual bag tube 6. The hopper 5 is provided 'with two feed chutes 7, there being one on each side of the packer driving mechanism, as hereinafter described; and supported on the top of these feed chutes or hopper is the main supply hopper 8. Mounted within a central opening between the feed chutes 7 on the top of the hopper 5 is a bearing 9, and rotatably mounted in this bearing 9 is a vertical shaft 10, which extends down through lthe hopper 5 and the bag tube 6. Connected to this shaft 10 and within the bagtube 6 are a plurality of packing augers 11, which may be of any approved type. 12 is a bevel gear connectedL to the upper-end of the shaft 10, which meshes with the bevel gear 13, on the end of a'shaft 14, journaled in a bearing 15, connected to the bearing 9, and also in a bearing 16 on the frame 3. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 14 and within the bearing 16 is a sleeve 17, which is free to rotate within the bearing 16and` about Vthe shaft 14. Connected to .one end of this sleeve 17 is a clutch member 18, and connected to the other end thereof is a driving pulley 19, which is arranged to be driven by any suitable source of power.

The sleeve 17 is kept from longitudinal movement within the bearing 16 by means of the shoulder on the hub of the pulley 19, and the clutch member 18; while the shaft 14 is held from longitudinal movement by the gear wheel 13 and a collar 20.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 14 is a second clutch member 21, which is arranged to be rotated by means of the shaft through the medium of a key 22, which is seated in a key-seat in the shaft 14, the arrangement being such that the clutch member 21 is adapted to be moved longitudinally with respect to the shaft 14, in order to permit the clutch members 21 to be engaged and disengaged with respect to each other to rotate the gear wheel 13, and through it the packing auger-s. Surrounding the shaft 14 and interposed between the clutch members .18 and 21 is a coiled spring 23, which is arranged to disengage the clutch members to stop the movement of the gear wheel 13. The clutch member 21 is provided with va groove 24, and 25 is a clutch lever, pivoted at 26 and which is provided with a yoke surrounding the clutch member.

27 designates pins extending through the walls of the yoke of the clutch member, which engage the groove 24 for shifting the clutch member. l.

Rotatably mounted in bearings on the frame 3 is a shaft 28; and connectedto'this shaft are sheaves 29 for cables 30, one end of each of which is connected to one end of a bag platform 31, while the other ends thereof are provided with counterweights 32, the weight of which is sufficient lto counterbalance the weight of the platform 31, and at least, a portion of the material within the bag being filled. 4This platform 31 is provided with end extensions to which the ends of the cables are connected, and which end extensions extend outwardly through guides in the columns 2, so that the platform is guided thereby in its movement. Secured to the'shaft 28 so as to rotate therewith is a brake drum 33.

34 is a three-armed lever pivotally connected at 35 to one of the columns 2.

36 is a friction band connected to the pivot point 35 and to an arm of the lever 34, which is arranged to be held in contact with the brake drum 33 by means of an adjustable weight 37, on the lever 34.

38 is asecond bell crank pivoted to any desired portion of the' machine, and havingY lever will be raised to remove or slacken the brake 4band 36, lwhen the clutch lever Y is shifted, by means of the spring 23. Pivotally connected to the frame of the machine at a suitable po-int adjacent to the lower end of the clutch lever 25 is a clutch lever locking member 40, which is provided with a locking projection 41 and an extension 42, the locking projection 41 being in line with the lower end of the clutch lever 25, while the extension 42 is in line of movement of a releasing projection 43, adjustably secured to the shaft 28.

44 is a second adjustable lug on the shaft 28, which is arranged to engage the end of the clutch lever 25 to move the clutch members into operative position with relation to each other.

45 designates releasing cords connected to levers 46 on a shaft 47, and 48 is a lever connected to said shaft. Connected to the last mentioned lever and the extension 42 of the locking member 40 is a cord, which is ar-V ranged to release the clutch lever when either of the cords 45 are drawn down to stop the packing mechanism.

By reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the feed chutes extend from the main hopper to the feed hopper on opposite sides of the driving mechanism for the packing shaft, the arrangement being'such that the hopper 5 will always be filled with the material to be packed. As the combined cross sectional area of the two chutes 7 is considerably greater than the cross sectional area of the bag tube 6, and as these hoppers are arranged in stream lines around theV mechamechanism has been thrown into'operation to fill a bag. Assuming that the'ba'g 50 has been placed over the tube 6 and supported on a platform 31, as'indicate'd in Fig. 1, the material will pass from the hopper 8 to the hopper 5, through the chute 7, and will be fed down through the tube6, by means of the packing augers which are Ydriven by the gear wheels 12 and 13. This downward feed of the material into the bag 50 will force the platform 31 downwardly against the action of the brake mechanism and the counterweights, the projection 43 being set at such a point that it will strike the extension 42 to release the clutch lever 25 as soon as theV bag has been filled to a predetermined point. This movement of the locking member, 40 will release the clutch lever 25 and permit the spring 23 to disconnect the clutch Vmembers 21 and 18, while the movement of theV clutch lever 25 to the left will actuate the bell crank A38, raise the lever 34 and release the brake mechanism so that all the parts will be in a state of rest. If the weight of the packed bag and the platform is slightly greater than the combined weight of the counter-balancing weights 32, the platform will be moved downwardly to its eXtreme limit, it being understood that the feed of the material is entirely stopped at that time. The operator then places his foot on the platform, removes the filled bag and inserts an empty bag in position over the tube 6.-

He then releases the platform which will be elevated by means of the counterweights, and as it reaches its upward position, the lug 44 will strike the end of the lever 25, throwing the clutch against the action of the spring 23. This movement of the clutch lever 25 will permit the locking member 40 to drop into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and will also permit the brake mechanism to go into operation. As soon as the clutch members are in engagement with each other, the shaft 10 will be rotated by means of the gearing and start to lill the next bag. If a bag should burst during the filling operation, the operator will pull one of the cords 45, which will disconnect the clutch and release the brake mechanism in the same manner as if the extension 42 were struck by the projection 43, so that the feed of the material can be stopped at any point in the opera-tion of the machine.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of automatic mechanism for controlling the operation of the machine and releasing and throwing the brake mechanism into operation by the movement of the support-ing platform for the bag being filled. By the use of clutch mechanism which is controlled by the movement of the platform, the height of the column fed into the bag or the downward movement of the bag can readily be gaged, so that the height of the material in the bag will be approximately the saine. By the use of chutes for conveying the material from the main hopper to the feed hopper, which are formed in stream lines and extend around two sides of the driving mechanism, I am enabled to provide means to maintain a predetermined quantity of material within the filling hopper 5, and together with the brake mechanism, I am enabled to control the density of the material in the bag being filled, so that by the combination of the density and the height of the column or movement of the bag, I am enabled to accurately measure the amount of material placed into each bag.

I claim:

1. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, driving mechanism for said auger including a clutch having a plurality of members, a lever for retaining said members in driving connection with each other, a locking member for the clutch lever for retaining it in position to hold the clutch members in engagement with each other, and means controlled by the movement of the bag for actuating the locking lever to release the clutch lever and stop the driving mechanism; substantially as described.

2. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, driving mechanism for said auger including a clutch havinga plurality of members, a lever for retaining said members in driving connection with each other, a locking member for the clutch lever for retaining it in position to hold the clutch members in engagement with each other, means controlled by the movement of the bag for actuating the locking lever to release the clutch lever and stop the driving mechanism, and other means for releasing said locking member; substantially as described.

3. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, driving mechanism for said auger including a clutch having a plurality of members, means for normally holding said members out of engagement with each other, a clutch lever for throwing said clutch members into engagement with each other to set the driving mechanism into motion, a bag support, means controlled by the movement of the bag support for actuating said lever to throw the clutch members into engagement with each other, and a locking member for holding the clutch lever in its thrown position; substantially as described.

4. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, driving mechanism for said auger including a clutch having a plurality of members, means for normally holding said members out of engagement with each other, a clutch lever for throwing said clutch members into engagement with each other to set the driving mechanism into motion, a bag support, means controlled by the movement of the bag support for actuating said lever to throw the clutch members into engagement with each other, a locking member for holding the clutch lever in its thrown position, and means controlled by the movement of the bag support in the reverse direction for releasing the locking member to permit the clutch to be actuated to disengage the driving mechanism; substantially as described. c

5. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, a bag support, a shaft having sheaves thereon, supporting members for the bag support on said sheaves, a friction device connected to said shaft, driving mechanism for the auger including a clutch having a plurality of members, a clutch lever for throwing said clutch members into engagement with each other to connect the auger with the driving mechanism, means for throwing .the clutch members out of engagement with each other, a holding member for holding the clutch lever in a position to retain the clutch members in engagement with each other, and means on the shaft for actuating the locking member to release the clutch member after the bag has moved a predetermined distance to disengage the driving mechanism; substantially as described.

6. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, a bag support, a shaft having sheaves thereon, supporting members for the bag support on said sheaves, a friction device connected to said shaft, driving mechanism for the auger including a clutch having a plurality of members, a clutch lever for throwing said clutch members into engagement with each other to connect the auger with the driving mechanism, means for throwing the clutch members out of engagement with each other, a

holding member for holding the clutch leverin a position to retain the clutch members in engagement with each other, means on the shaft for actuating the locking member Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I

to release the clutch member after the bag has moved a predetermined distance to disengage the driving mechanism, and means on said shaft i'or actuating the clutch lever to permit the locking member to fall in place and throw the clutch members into engagement with each other when the bag support is moved a predetermined distance in the reverse direction; substantially as described.

7. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, a hopper at the upper end ofsaid tube, driving mechanism within the hopper, and a casing within said hopper surrounding the driving mechanism; substantially as described.

8. A packer of the character described, comprising a filling tube, a packing auger within said tube, a hopper at the upper end of said tube, driving mechanism within the hopper, a casing within said hopper surrounding the driving mechanism, and a main supply hopper connected to the top of the iirst mentioned hopper; substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ROWAN T. F. DODDS. Witnesses:

ELIZABETH KILKEARY,

J A. DoDDs.

Washington, D. C. 

